Mixed emotions I would say. Anticipation and excitement on the one hand, because the big reorganization, the big smile as we called it, was now finally going to materialize. On the other hand, nostalgic too, since we will be leaving behind the bigger EDC family, where I have spent the last 5 years of my career. Looking at the glass as half full, we will finally be getting a chance to be paid the drilling industry standard, something that those that came before me and held this same job that I now hold had been clamoring for. Over the years, a lot of those people had resigned and gone on to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

I vividly remember the first flag raising ceremony I attended at our Northern Negros facility way back in 2006. The hairs at the back of my neck stood on end, as I was awash with such powerful emotions. I remember thinking that time, and saying to myself, “I am part of something big, something worthwhile, something I am proud of!” I never thought anyone could feel that proud of his job, as I was that day. Here I was standing tall, standing proud, and knowing that my job mattered, knowing that I was making a difference in the world. That was such a powerful feeling! Whenever I feel down and frustrated with work-related concerns, all I have to do is just mentally go back to that day, and I am refreshed once more, raring to go another day, to do my part, to take my place in this worthwhile endeavor.

Around 2 months back, during the opening ceremonies of our annual company badminton tournament, we again sang the corporate song. A touching realization came upon me – that I was going to miss singing it during the flag-raising ceremonies! This was especially so since during my assignment at our head office, we usually did not attend the flag raising ceremonies regularly. Once again, I was feeling such strong emotions, and while I looked around, I was wondering if anybody among the crowd even had a hint why I was smiling as I was singing our corporate song. Yes I was smiling, but my chest was weighed down by very strong emotions.

I’d just like to share the lyrics of this song I feel so strongly about, and of which I will look back on, and remember the pride with which I sang it, once upon a time….

A breed of new heroes

One vision, one goal

Dig deep and discover

Energy at the core

Hidden strength and power

That lies deep within

The heart of a nation

Where progress begins

The best our land has to offer

The world shall now see

The force that drives a nation

And sets it free

One spark, one light, one life

One vision through the test of time

One in voice and one in stride

Empowering people, empowering life

Full steam ahead

Source of power, source of pride

Moving forward, aiming high

Empowering people, empowering life

I find this thought relevant at present, because the chick has presented itself once more. The egg is yet to be seen. I am at the crossroads once more.

Come to think of it, it’s no wonder that my body aches like it does now. I think there isn’t a part of my body that hasn’t been spared..my back, legs, arms, chest, stomach…everywhere aches! And to cap off the start of my week-long vacation, Borski and I then proceeded to the local movie theater to watch “The Legend of the Guardians,” a cartoon flick, for our bonding moment. If you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend watching it. It’s a feel good movie, fit for the whole family.

Earlier today, we also got to take a dip at Wuthering Heights Beach resort. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the beach, the last time being when we were at Samal Island. From the beach, Borski and I then proceeded to give the fleabags at Camanjac their long overdue baths. I wish we had a camera that time. ‘Twas funny how we had to drag Carla since she wouldn’t come for her bath, while Batchoy, the Daschund just ran around trying to ignore our calls, hoping that we might change our mind about giving him a bath. Kobe, as usual, was his calm, serene, obedient self.

Next up on our keeping fit regimen, jogging at the boulevard early dawn tomorrow. I hope this pays off.

For the past month also, I have been tasked with an innovation project for future improvement. While I was thinking about the workload I had for the weekend, I had also come to the realization that I had been unconsciously fighting the role assigned to me on this project, and not having enough drive to get it done. Slowly, it sunk in. THIS is the job I have to do. Looking at the posted requirements, future improvement more often than not, is a requirement for the skill set of being a drilling engineer. I have to embrace this fact.

Only until then can I be able to enjoy my cheese.

On a good note, however, me and my colleagues have already been transferred to our new lodging place, and I couldn’t quite believe just what I saw when I arrived at the place, since it was close to being a hotel-like, or in fact, it is that way. I guess I just got used to how things were at our old lodging place, which is the reason why I couldn’t actually believe that this would be our new ‘barracks’. I had grown accustomed to the 1 toilet and bath in our old lodging place, and to think there were 8 of us there at one time. Now, there are only 2 occupants in each room, with the room having its own T&B. Well, you could say it is a huge improvement, and not to mention that there is a huge 40″ LCD TV (our dream TV) in the living room, and 2 smaller 20″ LCD TVs in the individual rooms.

I guess I would no longer be missing CSI episodes from now on. =)

I am on the field once again, and I feel as though I have lost the feel of how it is to be down and dirty out there. I will be presiding over a meeting later today, so that has gotten me quite on the edge right now. I am just trying to condition my mind, mantra-style. After all, my immediate supervisor has always said that, whenever I am in such a situation, just modulate my voice, (“lakasan mo lang boses mo”) and surely they will not object to whatever you say, after all, you are the master of your presentation. =)

One thing that has gotten me thinking is this new phenomenon right now, the e-cigarette. Our office, being a no-smoking area has now seen these popping out, with colleagues having a puff or two while indoors, in meetings, and the like. It has made me wonder, why DO we post “No Smoking” signs? Is it because of the smoke? or the ashes? If it were the latter, then I guess this new gadget would be the solve-all for smokers who do not want to be inconvenienced by going out of the office to indulge in their pastime. If it were the former, however, I guess these people have to think twice all the more. Or they could always just smoke, but please, don’t exhale. =)

As an update, my colleagues and I asked for an audience with our chief adviser Friday of the previous week, just so we could be updated on the goings on, or if ever the change we are waiting for is still alive. Three weeks. “Expect some changes in three weeks,” was what we got.

At least my immediate supervisor can now get his haircut. =)

One’s good and untainted name is one possession that no amount of material wealth could ever equal. And yet look at how other politicians despise being linked to her during the election period. I wonder how she sleeps at night, knowing that this is her legacy.

As for the current president, it is time to walk the talk my friend. The people will be watching.

While you yourself have said it, that..and let me quote, “While it is apparent that Arroyo is not faultless…”

IMHO, by not answering that question head on, and I do believe that it is answerable with a yes or a no (you said so yourself with that quoted statement above), by playing it safe, and making a roundabout way of saying that, he needed evidence to prove it (if indeed he believed that GMA does have something to answer for), why not say it outright? Which leads us back to the balls issue, or the lack thereof. It was not as if he were asked IF GMA is guilty. He was asked if GMA HAD issues she had to answer for when she steps down. And once again, I’d have to say you’d be effing blind not to see how she has made good use of her “competence” and god-given talent to make a mockery of our democracy. Look at where Joc-Joc Bolante is now at? or Mikey Arroyo, the champion of the security guards’ causes?

Where does Gibo figure in all of this, you say? He is smack right in the middle of it. I’d rather he take a fucking stand.

For all Gibo’s supposed “competence,” why not make a stand for himself, instead of playing it safe for fear of angering her benefactor. I am not really a die-hard Noynoy fan, and he has his own share of shortcomings. On the Hacienda Luisita issue, I’d rather not comment, as I do have to humbly admit that I do not have an in depth knowledge on the real situation, and what really went on. Perhaps you’d like to educate me some more on the facts of the case at hand. He may be guilty, he may not be. Like you, I am not out to convince you to see the yellow light too.

On the Disarmament of Mindanao / Failure as the Defense Secretary: While you are correct that this issue has been a long standing one, Gibo had in his hands a mighty tool with which to showcase his “galing at talino”. And what did he do with it? Try and convince Toto Mangundadatu to not break the status quo, and withdraw his candidacy instead. Why, might I ask, a person of his supposed caliber and skills, would ask that of Toto Mangundadatu? If you don’t see it, I do. He was too much of a chickenshit to do anything about it. The Ampatuans delivered for her benefactor an election ago, so here he goes again tiptoeing so as not to anger his benefactor. I mean, cmon, why even consider asking him to not run???

Gimme one good reason why he would ask that of him?

While it may be sad to see our people make a mockery of Ninoy and Cory as they do now, in an effort to discredit Noynoy, I am not voting solely on the consideration of his parentage, but rather on his character. I know times have changed, and long gone are the days that we have overlooked that Cory did not possess the “galing at talino” to run this country. We were so hell bent on removing a dictator, that we conveniently accepted that indeed she might not be the perfect person for the job. While some of us now are quick to ridicule at her inability to solve the land reform issue, but hey, it could have been worse,so much worse. She could have been so “capable”. She could have been equipped with the right “skills” and “experience” for the job.

Then her name could have been “GMA”. And I shudder at the thought of that.

The 3.5in floppy disk, once an icon of the computer age, is to be cleared from the shelves of PC World as demand for disks plummets.

Fletcher’s article PC World announces the end of the floppy disk was published online last 30 Jan 2007.

I cannot remember the last time I used a 3-in floppy disk (a.k.a. diskette). In like manner, I have not seen desktop computers and laptops with built-in floppy disk drives these days except for the CPUs at the Social Security System (SSS), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) offices. I would have to assume that these offices specifically ordered them from suppliers with such specs because their respective offices require their clients to submit data saved in these diskettes. What happened to the portable, stable thumb drives that replaced these floppy disks? Aptly, these offices should update their computerized system to be compatible with a USB device before the supply of floppy disks ran out in the market.